A Southeast Portland couple swept off the south jetty at Yaquina Bay Wednesday were integral members of a Portland improvisational troupe.

Mike Myers, 34, and and Katie Myers, 33, celebrated their 15th anniversary at the Oregon Coast by staying in the Agatha Christie room at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport.

At around 1 p.m., they rode bikes to the south jetty of Yaquina Bay, and walked towards the ocean on the rocky jetty, despite 18- to 20-foot waves.

Witnesses told police they thought the couple would stop because of the danger, but they kept going. One witness told police he saw the couple holding onto a light pole at the end of the jetty when a large wave swept them into the water.

The U.S. Coast Guard recovered Katie’s body a short time later, but the search for Mike continues today, said Lt. Gregg Hastings of the Oregon State Police.

Coast Guard officials cautioned surf and storm watchers to just avoid using jetties along the coast.

"There is no real safe way to watch from a jetty,'' said BM2 Graham Sahli of Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay. "A lot of those jetty rocks do move with the waves."

Sahli said the other hazard comes from debris that is transported by rivers into the Oregon Coast bays. Large logs can be thrown onto the jetties.

"There is no real safe way to walk out on a jetty," he said. "There are many safer viewpoints up and down the coast. Or just get some binoculars."

Patrick Short, manager of the ComedySportz improvisational group said Mike Myers was “one of the most naturally funny people I’ve ever met.”

He said Mike performed in at least 800 shows in 14 years. The group, part of the World Comedy League, has improv troupes in 22 cities, as well as in Berlin and Manchester, England.

“He was a top performer, one of the best,’’ Short said.

The two came to a workshop in 1995, and Mike eventually worked himself into full-time membership in 1996.

“Katie was there to support Mike. They were already married,” Short said.

View full sizeLori Tobias/The OregonianBicycles used by Katie and Mike Myers to pedal to the Yaquina Bay jetty were removed by police Wednesday.

Three years ago, Katie joined the group, at first answering the phones and eventually

View full sizeCourtesy of Patrick ShortMike Myers rehearsing at ComedySportz.

taking over booking duties for the group’s educational functions, which includes performing at schools for children.

“Everybody liked doing the shows at schools, but nobody liked the paperwork,’’ Short said. “Katie created opportunities and made it all happen.”

Margie Boule did improv with Mike Myers for 10 years. She called him "a brilliant, physical comedian, but also sweet and kind."

She said that, at a show in Illinois, the group did a show on a stage that was also being used for a play. Myers had checked out the stage beforehand, but Boule and Short, who were performing with Myers, had not.

"Midway through the performance he turned and ran and jumped out a window on the set,''Boule said. "It looked like he had jumped out a ten-story window. There were foam pads on the other side, but none of us knew that; the audience went crazy."

Short said the couple were devout members of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but said their religion didn’t define them.

“They were very active, going door to door and carrying out their missions, but I’m sure a lot of people never knew,’’ Short said. “I’m sure Mike got a lot of doors to open.”

“They were just incredible people,’’ he continued. “It’s horribly sad.”